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Saturday, 6 October 2012

Let battle commence!

I’ve had to sit down; I don’t know if it is a result of the physical exertion of climbing onto the bathroom scales, or the shock of the reality that I weigh the heaviest I have in my entire life!

Whilst in recent weeks I have been diligently planning for my big trip next year, and ensuring my gear will be as light as it can be without compromising comfort, I have been distracted and unforgivably ignored the most important factor; shedding the copious excess weight from myself and not just the backpack!

The hard facts are that whilst I have shaved off a few pack kilos through better/lighter equipment, I have just redistributed that weight to the waistline!

I’m beating myself up about it. I’m pissed off at my indifference to tackling it sooner, but in my defence I have had a few issues; Shoulder problems over the past two years have restricted any regular upper body exercise. I have also struggled, for the past six months at work, with a task that has left me with bouts of stress, insomnia and little motivation for things like exercise!

Admittedly not a strong case, but ill health, unhappiness and frustration can breed a mind-set where you come home from work of an evening and think; “Hmm.. a set of leg presses, sit ups, wall squats, 20 minutes on the stepper and a 45 minute session on the rowing machine? Definitely… but first, I’ll just have a quick doze whilst watching The One Show!” An hour later, I’m waking from my slumber, feeling like I’m in the early stages of a hangover, and then reassuring myself; “I’ll start my exercise regime tomorrow..”

Add to all this, I haven’t had a holiday this summer, I’ve taken few weekend trips to the hills, and my core source of exercise is walking.

With a culmination of all the aforementioned, I guess there is little surprise that I’m facing more of a challenge before I set foot on the Bibbulmun next September.

There are positives now, though; all is not lost.

I am recognising and acknowledging the issue now, and not a month before I fly down under. Work has settled back into a semblance of normality, and I have not only seen, but reached the light at the end of the tunnel. My shoulder problems have abated, for now, thanks to the wonders of cortisone, and so I can begin to partake in some form of upper body exercise.

If I really want this trip to go well, I simply have to get off the couch and sort myself out. The biggest step is breaking through that seemingly impenetrable force field of lethargy that protects any assault on obesity; do that and the task will only get easier, won’t it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Paul Buck is a backpacker and Social Hiker, who loves to walk for fun and for good causes. Currently visiting all the tors of Dartmoor, accounts of that challenge can be found at moorlandwalks.co.uk. Adventures further afield are right here.